Manali-Rohtang highway to be one-way this summer season
Traffic jam on Manali Rohtang road
Tourists shall have to keep patience to see snow at Rohtang pass this summer season as Manali has drafted strict regulations for vehicles plying Manali-Rohtang route. If everything goes right, tourists can
enjoy the panoramic journey to Rohtang only between 6am and 12 noon as vehicles
before or after this time limit will not be allowed to go towards Rohtang pass.
Traffic on Rohtang highway
Traffic on Manali-Rohtang highway
Police, administration, beopar mandal, hoteliers and taxi union of Manali have prepared
a strict strategy to cope with the fierce traffic jam problem on this route. In
peak summer season, vehicles take five to eight hours only to cover 51-km
distance between Rohtang and Manali. The problem intensifies at evening when
all vehicles from Rohtang leave for Manali and stuck in narrow road for hours. Now,
the plan is that vehicles from Manali can go towards Rohtang between 6am and 12
noon and vehicles at Rohtang can come back to Manali only after 12pm.
“The time table for vehicles and making highway one way will definitely help reduce the jam
problems. This will make journey more comfortable, fast and also reduce the
accidents and save precious time of travelers,” Kullu police chief Ashok Kumar
said adding that the restriction would be lifted for the ambulances and those
vehicles in emergency.
Everybody welcomed this step but police warned that those who would not adhere to the
rule will be penalized with seizing of their car. Also, 10pm to 6am will be the
zero traffic hours when no vehicles will be allowed on the highway. If tourists
reach Manali afternoon and want to visit Rohtang on the same day, they shall
have to postpone their plan to next day.
It was being witnessed in Manali that some taxi operators, to make multi-trips to Rohtang in
same day, were taking tourists to Rohtang in early morning and even midnight.
Many tourists were complaining that taxi driver didn’t allow them to enjoy much
time at Rohtang pass with excuse that they will stuck in dead traffic jam. Now
the fix timing for cabs and other cars will allow tourists much time to spend
in snow.
Police, tourism department and administration are also planning to take effective steps to stop
service providers from duping tourists. Instructions have been issued to
adventure sports organizers and snow dress lenders to hang rate-list at their
kiosks.

Rohtang opens for pedestrians

Rohtang pass has officially been opened for pedestrians from Wednesday after installing
rescue posts on either side of the pass. The expert mountaineers in posts will
monitor the movement and help people in an emergency.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports director Randhir Singh
Salhuria said rescue posts have been installed at Koksar in Lahaul and Marhi in
Kullu. “We strongly recommend people to get themselves registered in both the
posts before and after cross the pass so that we can ensure their safety,” he
said.
Posts will be
serving until the highway opens for traffic. Rohtang pass is still covered
under 30 to 50 feet of snow and temperature is many notches below freezing
point.

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